Conveyor for vehicle washing unit

ABSTRACT

A conveyor for a vehicle washing system. The conveyor includes an endless chain located above grade level so that both the conveying path of the chain and the return path move in a common horizontal plane. A series of roller units are attached at spaced intervals to the chain and are adapted to engage the tire of a vehicle to convey the vehicle through the washing unit. A provision is made at the entrance end of the conveyor for enabling the roller units to selectively by-pass the vehicle tire. As each roller unit passes around the sprocket at the end of the conveyor, it pivots downwardly to a lower level and rides at the lower level beneath the tire to by-pass the same. When it is desired to have the roller unit engage the vehicle tire, a ramp or plate is pivoted upwardly and the roller unit will ride upwardly on the ramp to the upper level in position to engage the tire and convey the vehicle through the washing unit.

United States Patent 1 91 Czerwinski [111 3,745,932 1 July 17, 1973CONVEYOR FOR VEHICLE WASHING UNIT [76} Inventor: Gerald E. Cz erwinsk i,2532 Buchanan Road, Kenosha, Wis. 53140 [22] Filed: June 23, 1971 [21]Appl. No.: 155,879

Primary Examiner-Drayton E. Hoffman Attorney-Andrus, Sceales, Starke &Sawall [57] ABSTRACT A conveyor for a vehicle washing system. Theconveyor includes an endless chain located above grade level so thatboth the conveying path of the chain and the return path move in acommon horizontal plane. A series of roller units are attached at spacedintervals to the chain and are adapted to engage the tire of a vehicleto convey the vehicle through the washing unit. A provision is made atthe entrance end of the conveyor for enabling the roller units toselectively -by-pass the vehicle tire. As each roller unit passes aroundthe sprocket at the end of the conveyor, it pivots downwardly to a lowerlevel and rides at the lower level beneath the tire to by-pass the same.When it is desired to have the roller unit engage the vehicle tire, aramp or plate is pivoted upwardly and the roller unit will ride upwardlyon the ramp to the upper level in position to engage the tire and conveythe vehicle through the washing unit.

14 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures INVENTOR.

GERALD E. CZERWINSKI BY Attorneys PAIENIEDW SHEEI103 Pmmnm i 3.145.932

SHEET 2 [5'3 IN VENTOR.

Attorneys GERALD E. CZERWINSKI Pmmaumwwn 3.145.932

sum 3 OF 3 INVENTOK GERALD E. CZERWINSKI BY W lxo wwa Attorneys 1CONVEYOR FOR VEHICLE WASHING UNIT BACKGROUND OF INVENTION Theconventional vehicle washing system includes a conveyor which serves tomove the automobile, or other vehicle, through the washing unit. Theconveyor usually consists of an endless chain, and in someinstallations, the chain is mounted above grade level so that both theconveying path and the return path of the chain are located in the samehorizontal plane. In other installations, the return path of travel ofthe chain is located within a trough at a level beneath grade.

Several methods can be employed to attach the vehicle to the endlesschain. In some cases a short length of chain is hooked betweentheconveyor chain and the frame or bumper of the vehicle, while in morerecent installations, roller units are connected at spaced intervals tothe chain and engage the tire of the vehicle to move the vehicle to thewashing unit. The use of conveyor rollers has decided advantages overthe use of short lengths of connecting chain, because no labor isrequired to engage and disengage the vehicle from the conveyor chainandthere is no possibility of damage to the bumper or other framemembers, or to the. vehicle transmission, as may occasionally arise whenusing small lengths of connecting chain.

In a typical vehicle washing unit, the operatorof the vehicle will driveto a vacuuming station where an attendant will vacuum the interior ofthe vehicle. Follow ing the vacuuming, the attendant will normally enterthe car and move the car slightly ahead onto the con veyor system sothat a roller unit attached to the conveyor can engage the fronttire ofthe vehicle to thereby move the vehicle through the washing unit. Thisprocedure has disadvantages in that it requires time for the attendantto get in the vehicle, start it and move it ahead onto the conveyor.While the time required for each such individual operation is relativelysmall, the accumulated time, over a period of a day, is-considerable.Moreover, the owners of the automobile or vehicle do not favor the ideaof an attendant starting and operating their vehicle. As a furtherproblem, the attendant may occasionally have problems in starting, oroperating the vehicle, particularly where the vehicle may not be apopular make.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION This invention relates to a conveyor for a vehiclewashing system and more particularly to a conveyor utilizing rollerunits which eliminates the problems associated with conveyors of theprior art. According to the ivention, the conveyor includes an endlesschain which is located above grade level so that both the conveying pathof the chain and the return path move bypass a common horizontal plane.A series of roller units are pivotally attached at spaced intervals tothe chain and are adapted to engage the tire of the vehicle and conveythe vehicle through the washing unit.

In accordance with a feature of the-invention, a provision is made atthe entry end of the conveyor to selectively enable each roller unit tobypass the vehicle tire. As each roller unit passes around the sprocketat the entry end of the conveyor, it pivots downwardly to a lower leveland rides at this lower level beneath the tire to by-pass the same. Whenit is desired to move the vehicle through the washing unit, a ramp plateis pivoted upwardly through operation of a fluid cylinder and the rollerunit rides up the ramp to the upper level in position to engage thevehicle tire and convey the vehicle through the washing unit.

The by-pass provision for the roller unit enables the operator or ownerof the vehicle to drive the vehicle, directly onto the conveyor system,and the roller units will then by-pass the vehicle tire during theperiod while the attendant is vacuuming the car. After the vacuuming hasbeen completed, the attendant will then actuate the fluid cylinder tomove the ramp upwardly so that the next roller unit will ride up theinclined ramp and engage the tire to move the vehicle through the unit.The construction saves time in that the attendant is not required, aftervacuuming, to enter the vehicle and move it ahead onto the conveyor. Italso saves customer aggravation due to the fact that the attendant isnot required to operate the vehicle.

As the entire conveyor chain is installed above ground, the unit can beinstalled with either new or existing installations with a minimum oflabor and expense.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the course of the followingdescription.

The drawings illustrate the best mode presently contemplated of carryingout the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the conveyor system of the invention asutilizedwith a conventional vehicle washing unit;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial vertical section taken along line 2-2 ofFIG. 1 and showing the ramp in the down position and the roller unitsmoving in the lower or bypass path;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the ramp in the upperposition and the roller units moving to the upper position;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged transverse section taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a vertical section taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 1 and showinga roller unit in the lower or by-pass position;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of the structure shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of the conveyor chain;

FIG. 8 is a section taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 1 and showing a rollerunit in the upper conveying position;

FIG. 9 is a section taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a section showing the hinged door; and FIG. 12 is a partialside elevation of the conveyor showing a roller unit elevated above thetire rotating rollers.

FIG. l illustrates schematically the conveyor of the invention asutilized in a typical vehicle washingunit.

The conveyor 1 is mounted on the floor or foundation 2 and includes anendless chain 3 which is trained over a drive sprocket 4 and an idlersprocket 5.

The drive sprocket 4 is mounted on a vertical output shaft 6 oftransmission or gear box 7, while the input shaft 8 to the gear box 7 isconnected by a conventional variable speed belt drive 9 to the driveshaft 10 of a motor 11. Both thetransmission 7 and the motor 1 l aremounted within a generally rectangular pit 12 located at theexit end ofthe conveyor.

Idler sprocket 5 is carried on a vertical shaft 13 which is journalledfor rotation by bearings in a frame 14 that FIG. 10 is a top view of thestructure shown in FIG is mounted within a pit 15 located at theentrance end of the wash unit. A conventional threaded take-up unit,indicated generally by 16, is associated with the shaft bearings to takeup the slack in the conveyor chain 3 and maintain the desired tension onthe chain.

The conveyor chain 3 is guided in travel by an I-beam 17, with theconveying path of the chain moving along one side of the vertical web ofthe I-beam and the return path of travel moving on the opposite side ofthe vertical web. With this construction, both the conveying path oftravel and the return path of the chain are located above grade leveland lie in a common horizontal plane. To aid in guiding the conveyorchain 3 from the drive sprocket 4 to the l-beam 17, a guide channel 18is connected between the I-beam and extends diagonally outward andterminates adjacent the sprocket 4. Similarly, a guide channel 19extends diagonally from the I-beam 17 at the entry end of the conveyorand terminates adjacent the idler sprocket and aids in guiding theconveyor chain around the idler sprocket.

As best illustrated in FIG. 5, angles 20 are welded to the upper flangeof the I-beam l7, and the vertical flanges of the angles extenddownwardly. Similarly, angles 21 are welded to the lower flange of theI-beam and the vertical flanges of the angles 21 extend upwardly. Thus,the angles 20 and 21 in combination with the flanges and vertical web ofthe I-beam provide tracks for travel of the conveyor chain 3.

As shown in FIG. 5, the angles 21 are welded to a base plate 22 which inturn is bolted to the floor or foundation 2.

To guide the chain in travel within the channels 18 and 19, angles 23and 24 are welded to the upper and lower flanges of each channel andfunction with the respective channel to provide a track for movement ofthe chain 3. The use of the I-beam 17 as a track for both the conveyingpath and return path of chain 3, provides a more compact unit, having aminimum width, which can be more readily accommodated in existingbuildings.

The chain 3 is a conventional roller link chain composed of a series oflinks 25 and 26, as shown in FIG. 7. Rollers 27 are secured between thecorresponding ends of the links 25 and the links 25 and 26 are connectedtogether by pins 28 that extend through rollers 27. Ears or lugs 29 areformed. on the upper and lower surfaces of the links 25 and serve aswear projections, rinding against the flanges of the l-beam 17 as thechain 3 moves in its path of travel.

A series of roller units 30 are attached at spaced intervals alon thelength of the conveyor chain 3 and serve to move the vehicle through thewashing unit. As illustrated in FIGS. 5, 9 and 10, each roller unit 30includes an arm 31 which is pivotally connected to the chain 3. Theupper end 32 of the am is pivotally connected 'within a slot formed in alug 33 welded to the edges of plates 34 that extend vertically between apair of links 25. A bolt 35 extends through aligned openings in theouter flange of lug 33 and end 32 of the arm and is threaded into theinner portion of the lug. This connection permits the arm 31 to pivotwith respect to the chain 3 in a vertical plane.

A horizontal shaft 36 is mounted on the lower end of each arm 31 and alarge roller 37 is journalled on the central portion of the shaft.Mounted on either side of the roller 37 are links 39 which are connectedto the shaft 36 by bolts 40, so that links 39 are fixed with respect toarm 31 and are located at an obtuse angle with respect to the arm.Rollers 41 are mounted for rotation on the lower ends of the links 39 bybolts 42. Bolts 42 extend through bushings within the rollers 41 and theends of the bolts are threaded within the links 39.

As the chain 3 moves in its forward or conveying path of travel, therollers 41 ride on the floor or foundation 2 and the roller 37 engagesthe tire 38 and conveys the vehicle through the washing unit.

When the roller unit 30 is in its upper position, the arm 31 issubstantially parallel with the conveyor chain 3, and to prevent lateraldeflection of the arm, a pad 43 is welded to plates 34 on links 25 ofthe chain and is provided with a rounded or curved lower edge 44, asshown in FIGS. 9 and 10. The upper edge 45 on arm 31 is correspondinglyrounded so that the edge 45 will ride against the rounded surface 44 ofpad 43 when the arm can is pivoted upwardly to the horizontal position.When in the upper position, the pad 43 will engage the inner surface ofthe arm 31 and prevent inward deflection of the roller unit 30 as theroller 37 bears against the tire 38 of the vehicle.

To guide the vehicle tire 38 in movement, a pipe 46 is welded to the topangle 20 on the I-beam 17 as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, and the outeedge of the pipe projects beyond the arm 31 so that the tire willcontact the pipe 46 before contacting the arm 31. A guide pipe 47 isalso mounted in spaced relation to the guide pipe 46 and is supported bybrackets 48 from the foundation 2. The spacing between the pipes 46 and47 is slightly greater than the width of the vehicle tire 38, as shownin FIG. 4. i In accordance with the invention, the pit 15 is providedwith an extension 49 which extends forwardly and has a lesser depth thanthe pit 15. The top of the pit extension 49 is enclosed by a flat plate50 which is secured to the upper surface of the floor 2 by bolts 51 andprojects over the pit extension 49.

As best shown in FIG. 2, th eplate 50 is provided with a pair ofopenings 52 and '53, each of which is enclosed by hinged doors 54 and55; respectively. Stops 56 are welded to the upper surface of the doors54 and 55 and are adapted to engage the upper surface of the plate 50 toprevent the doors from falling through the openings 52 and 53.

As each roller unit 30 passes around the sprocket 5, the rollers 41 ridedownwardly on an inclined plate 57, thereby permitting the arm 31 topivot downwardly a substantially vertical position and moving the roller37 to a position below the foundation 2. The roller 37 then travelsbeneath the plate 50, as illustrated in FIG. 2, to the forward end ofthe pit extension 49. As shown in FIG. 5, the inner edge of the plate 50is spaced from the I-beam 17 so that the arm 31 can travel within theclearance between the edge of the plate and the I- beam.

The roller 37 is moved upwardly to a position above the plate 50 at theforward end of the pit extension 49 by an inclined plate 58. When theroller unit 30 reaches the end of the pit extension 49 in its travelbeneath the plate 50, the rollers 41 ride on the inclined plate 58,causing the roller 37 to move upwardly and engage the hinged door 55,thereby opening the door and permitting the roller 37 to move throughthe opening 53 and back onto the surface of the floor 2. The travel ofthe roller 37 beneath the plate 50, which supports the tire 38 of thevehicle to be washed, provides a by-pass enabling the roller to by-passthe tire. In order to move the roller 37 of roller unit 30 intoengagement with the vehicle tire 38, which is located on the plate 50, apivotable plate 59 is located within the rear end of the pit extension49 and generally beneath the opening 52, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Therear end of the plate 59 is attached to a horizontal shaft 60, the endsof which are journalled in columns 61 that extend upwardly from thebottom of the pit 15. The lower ends of the columns 61 are supported ona base plate 62.

The plate 59 is adapted to be pivoted between a generally horizontalposition and an upwardly inclined position by a fluid cylinder 63. Thelower end of the cylinder is provided with lugs 64 which are pivotallyconnected to a bracket 65 mounted on the bottom of the pit 15. A pistonrod 66 is mounted for sliding movement in the cylinder 63 and the outerend of the piston rod is pivotally connected to a lug 67 mounted on theundersurface of the plate 59. A fluid pressure medium, such as air oroil, is introduced and withdrawn from the ends of the cylinder throughlines 68 and 69. When the fluid is introduced into the lower end of thecylinder through line 69, the piston rod 66 will be extended to therebypivot the plate 59 to an upwardly inclined position so that the outerbent end 70 of the plate engages the undersurface of the plate 50adjacent the forward edge of the opening 52. With the plate in theinclined position, the next roller 37 passing around the sprocket 5 willride up the inclined plate 59 to the upper surface of plate 50, forcingthe hinge door 54 open as it moves upwardly through the openings 52. Theroller 37 will then move across the upper surface of the plate 50 toengage the vehicle tire 38 and move the vehicle through the car washingunit.

When the vehicle has moved a predetermined distance beyond the plate 50,the forward end of the vehicle will engage a limit switch 71 whichactuates valving, not shown, to introduce fluid into the upper end ofcylinder 63 through line 68, thereby retracting the piston rod 66 andmoving the plate 59 back to its original, generally horizontal,position. With the plate 59 in the horizontal position, the next roller37 moving around the sprocket Swill again be by-aassed beneath the plate50 so that it will not engage a vehicle tire 38 located on the plate 50,if the tire is in that position.

FIG. 12 illustrates a feature of the invention in which each roller unit30 is elevated so that it will not engage or interfere with aseries ofdriven rollers 72 which are utilized with the wheel washing mechanism.As shown in FIG. 12, a series of driven rollers 72 are mountedtransverse to the path of travel of the conveyor chain, and aregenerally flush with the upper surface of the foundation 2. As the tire38, being conveyed by roller 37, moves onto the driven rollers 72, it isdriven at a rapid rate of speed so that a tire washing brush, not shown,can engage and clean the white side walls of the tire during thisrapidmovement.

To elevate the roller unit 30 above the level of rollers 72, a guide 73is secured to the lower angle 21 on the .l-beam 17 and is provided withdownwardly bent ends 74. As each roller unit 30 approaches the drivenrollers 71, the arm 31 will ride upwardly on the guide plate 73 tothereby elevate the roller 37 and rollers 41 to a position where theywill not contact or interfere with the driven rollers 72. A pad 75 iswelded to the arm 31 and is adapted to ride on the guide plate 73.

In operation, the pivotable plate 59 is normally in the horizontalposition and as each roller unit 30 passes around the sprocket 5, thearm 31 pivots by gravity to the lower position so that the roller 37will travel through the by-pass pit extension 49 beneath the plate 50.At the end of the pit extension 49, the rollers 37 will ride up theinclined plate 58 and back onto the upper surface of the foundation 2.

The owner or operator of the vehicle will drive the vehicle onto theconveyor system so that the front tire 38 of the vehicle is positionedon the plate 50 between the openings 52 and 53. The attendant will thenvacuum the interior of the vehicle and during this period the rollers 37will travel in the by-pass path beneath the plate 50.

When the attendant desires to have the vehicle move through the washingunit, he actuates the control for the valve unit connected to thecylinder 63 to thereby introduce air into the line 69 to move the plate59 to the inclined position. The roller 37 of the next roller unit 30,traveling around the sprocket 5, will then ride up the inclined plate 59and through the opening 52 and onto the upper surface of plate 50. Theroller 37 will then engage the tire 38 and move the vehicle through thewashing unit.

When the vehicle has proceeded beyond the plate 50, the front end of thevehicle will actuate the limit switch 71 which is operably connected tothe valve unit, to introduce fluid into the upper end of the cylinder 63through line 68 to return the plate 59 to its horizontal position. Thenext roller unit 30, moving around the sprocket 5, will travel in theby-pass path beneath the plate 50. i t

The mechanism of the invention provides an automatic by-pass for theroller units 30 so that they will not engage the vehicle tire 38 whichis located on the conveyor. When it is desired to move the vehiclethrough the washing system, the attendant merely actuates the fluidcylinder 63 to elevate plate 59, causing the next succeeding roller unit30 to move to the upper elevation to engage the tire.

With this system, the owner or operator of the car can drive the vehicledirectly onto the conveyor and the attendant does not have to get intothe car and drive it onto the conveyor. This not only saves considerabletime, but also eliminates customer aggravation due to the fact thatmanycustomers are reluctantto have attendants drive their vehicles Theconveying system is also less costly than many conventional types inthat the conveyor chain travels above grade in both the conveying andreturn paths of travel. This eliminates the necessity of forming atrough in the foundation for the return path of travel as is nec essaryin systems where the conveying path and return path are located in avertical plane.

In some instances it may be preferred to have the roller 37 engage therear vehicle tire rather than the front tire. In this case, the lengthof plate 50 is extended so that both the front and rear tires can bepositioned between the doors 54 and 55.

While the invention is directed specifically to a vehicle washing unit,it is contemplated that the conveyor can be used in other applicationswhere articles are to be conveyed by a conveyor.

Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as beingwithin the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out anddistinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as theinvention.

I claim:

1. A conveyor system for a vehicle washing unit, comprising afoundation, an endless conveyor chain mounted for travel on thefoundation and disposed to travel in a horizontal plane, an entrystation located adjacent one end of the path of travel of said conveyorchain, a series of roller units attached at spaced intervals to theconveyor chain, each roller unit being pivotally connected to the chainabout a horizontal axis whereby the roller unit can pivot in a verticalplane, each of said roller units including arm means pivotally connectedto the chain and a guide roller journalled for rotation on the end ofsaid arm means and disposed to ride on the foundation, each of saidroller units also including a main roller journalled on said arm meansand located between the guide roller and the pivotal connection of saidarm means to said conveyor chain, said main roller disposed to engagethe vehicle tire when the guide roller is riding on the foundation tothereby convey the vehicle through the washing unit, said roller unitalso including means for spacing the main roller above the foundationwhen said guide roller is riding on said foundation, passage meansformed in the foundation beneath the entry station, and bypass means forselectively diverting the roller units through said passage means andbeneath said entry station whereby the main roller will not engage thevehicle tire located at said entry station.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said arm means includes an armpivotally connected to the conveyor chain, and said main roller isjournalled on said arm, said arm means also includes a link disposed atan angle to said arm, said guide, roller being journalled on said link.

3. The system of claim 1, and including a guide track to guide theconveyor chain in travel.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the guide track is an I-beam having acentral vertical web, said conveyor chain traveling on one side of saidweb during travel in one direction and traveling on the other side ofthe web during travel in the opposite direction.

5. The system of claim 4, and including wear means extending verticallyfrom the conveyor chain and disposed to ride against said guide track toprvent wear of said chain.

6. The system of claim 1, and including a series of driven rollersdisposed transversely of the path of travel of the conveyor chain, theperiphery of said driven rollers extending slightly above the foundationin position to be engaged by the vehicle tire to thereby spin thevehicle tire, and guide means disposed to be engaged by the roller unitto move the roller unit to an elevated position above said drivenrollers so that saidroller unit will not contact said driven rollers.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said guide means includes a fixedguide member located above said driven rollers and disposed to beengaged by said roller unit to elevate said roller unit.

8. A conveyor system for a vehicle washing unit, comprising a foundationhaving a pit therein, a guide track mounted on the foundation adjacentthe pit, an endless conveyor mounted for movement on the track andhaving a path of travel extending from an entry station to a dischargestation, a series of conveying units attached at spaced locations to theconveyor, each conveying unit including an arm pivotally connected tothe conveyor about a horizontal axis, and having a conveying memberattached to said arm, a plate mounted on the foundation and partiallycovering said pit with the edge of said plate being spaced from thetrack to provide a clearance therebetween, said arm being disposed invertical alignment with the clearance, each conveying unit beingpivotable about said axis from an upper conveying position, in which theconveying member is located above the foundation and is adapted toengage the tire of a vehicle located at the entry station to convey thevehicle to the discharge station, to a lower bypass position in whichthe arm extends downwardly through said clearance and said conveyingmember is located beneath the level of the foundation, said plate beingprovided with a pair of spaced openings located in alignment with saidpath of travel, a first of said openings being located adjacent theentry station and the second of said openings being located downstreamin the direction of vehicle movement from said first opening, means forbiasing each conveying unit to said lower position as the conveying unitapproaches the entry station so that the conveying member travelsbeneath the plate to by-pass the vehicle tire located on the platebetween said openings, means disposed adjacent said second opening formoving said conveying unit from the lower to the upper position withsaid conveying member passing through the second opening and onto thefoundation, and means located adjacent the first opening for selectivelymoving said conveying unit from the lower position to the upper positionwith the conveying member passing through said first opening and ontosaid plate, whereby the conveying member will then engage the vehicletire and convey the vehicle to the discharge station.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said last named means comprises a ramplocated beneath said first opening, and operating means for pivotingsaid ramp between a generally horizontal position and an inclinedposition, said conveying member disposed to ride up the inclined rampand through the first opening.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said operating means is a fluidcylinder connected to said ramp.

11. The system of claim 12, and including a hinged door enclosing eachof said openings, said doors being biased to the closed position andbeing disposed to be pivoted to the open position by the conveyingmember.

12. The system of claim 9, and including means responsive to the vehicletire being moved by the conveying member to a position downstream ofsaid second opening for actuating said operating means and pivoting saidramp from the inclined to the horizontal position.

13. The system of claim 8, and including guide means connected to theguide track and disposed to be engaged by the conveying unit to move theconveying unit to a third elevated position above said conveyingposition.

14. A conveyor system for a vehicle washing unit, comprising afoundation, an endless conveyor chain mounted for travel on thefoundation and disposed to travel in a horizontal plane, an entrystation located adjacent one end of the path of travel of said conveyor,a series of roller units attached at spaced intervals to said conveyorchain, each roller unit being pivotally connected to the conveyor chainabout a horizontal axis whereby the roller unit can pivot in a verticalplane, passage means formed in the foundation beneath joumalled forrotation on said arm and disposed to engage the vehicle tire and meanson said conveyor chain for preventing lateral deflection of the outerend of the arm when the main roller is disposed in engagement with thevehicle tire.

t t t t

1. A conveyor system for a vehicle washing unit, comprising afoundation, an endless conveyor chain mounted for travel on thefoundation and disposed to travel in a horizontal plane, an entrystation located adjacent one end of the path of travel of said conveyorchain, a series of roller units attached at spaced intervals to theconveyor chain, each roller unit being pivotally connected to the chainabout a horizontal axis whereby the roller unit can pivot in a verticalplane, each of said roller units including arm means pivotally connectedto the chain and a guide roller journalled for rotation on the end ofsaid arm means and disposed to ride on the foundation, each of saidroller units also including a main roller journalled on said arm meansand located between the guide roller and the pivotal connection of saidarm means to said conveyor chain, said main roller disposed to engagethe vehicle tire when the guide roller is riding on the foundation tothereby convey the vehicle through the washing unit, said roller unitalso including means for spacing the main roller above the foundationwhen said guide roller is riding on said foundation, passage meansformed in the foundation beneath the entry station, and bypass means forselectively diverting the roller units through said passage means andbeneath said entry station whereby the main roller will not engage thevehicle tire located at said entry station.
 2. The system of claim 1,wherein said arm means includes an arm pivotally connected to theconveyor chain, and said main roller is journalled on said arm, said armmeans also includes a link disposed at an angle to said arm, said guide,roller being journalled on said link.
 3. The system of claim 1, andincluding a guide track to guide the conveyor chain in travel.
 4. Thesystem of claim 3, wherein the guide track is an I-beam having a centralvertical web, said conveyor chain traveling on one side of said webduring travel in one direcTion and traveling on the other side of theweb during travel in the opposite direction.
 5. The system of claim 4,and including wear means extending vertically from the conveyor chainand disposed to ride against said guide track to prvent wear of saidchain.
 6. The system of claim 1, and including a series of drivenrollers disposed transversely of the path of travel of the conveyorchain, the periphery of said driven rollers extending slightly above thefoundation in position to be engaged by the vehicle tire to thereby spinthe vehicle tire, and guide means disposed to be engaged by the rollerunit to move the roller unit to an elevated position above said drivenrollers so that said roller unit will not contact said driven rollers.7. The system of claim 6, wherein said guide means includes a fixedguide member located above said driven rollers and disposed to beengaged by said roller unit to elevate said roller unit.
 8. A conveyorsystem for a vehicle washing unit, comprising a foundation having a pittherein, a guide track mounted on the foundation adjacent the pit, anendless conveyor mounted for movement on the track and having a path oftravel extending from an entry station to a discharge station, a seriesof conveying units attached at spaced locations to the conveyor, eachconveying unit including an arm pivotally connected to the conveyorabout a horizontal axis, and having a conveying member attached to saidarm, a plate mounted on the foundation and partially covering said pitwith the edge of said plate being spaced from the track to provide aclearance therebetween, said arm being disposed in vertical alignmentwith the clearance, each conveying unit being pivotable about said axisfrom an upper conveying position, in which the conveying member islocated above the foundation and is adapted to engage the tire of avehicle located at the entry station to convey the vehicle to thedischarge station, to a lower by-pass position in which the arm extendsdownwardly through said clearance and said conveying member is locatedbeneath the level of the foundation, said plate being provided with apair of spaced openings located in alignment with said path of travel, afirst of said openings being located adjacent the entry station and thesecond of said openings being located downstream in the direction ofvehicle movement from said first opening, means for biasing eachconveying unit to said lower position as the conveying unit approachesthe entry station so that the conveying member travels beneath the plateto by-pass the vehicle tire located on the plate between said openings,means disposed adjacent said second opening for moving said conveyingunit from the lower to the upper position with said conveying memberpassing through the second opening and onto the foundation, and meanslocated adjacent the first opening for selectively moving said conveyingunit from the lower position to the upper position with the conveyingmember passing through said first opening and onto said plate, wherebythe conveying member will then engage the vehicle tire and convey thevehicle to the discharge station.
 9. The system of claim 8, wherein saidlast named means comprises a ramp located beneath said first opening,and operating means for pivoting said ramp between a generallyhorizontal position and an inclined position, said conveying memberdisposed to ride up the inclined ramp and through the first opening. 10.The system of claim 9, wherein said operating means is a fluid cylinderconnected to said ramp.
 11. The system of claim 12, and including ahinged door enclosing each of said openings, said doors being biased tothe closed position and being disposed to be pivoted to the openposition by the conveying member.
 12. The system of claim 9, andincluding means responsive to the vehicle tire being moved by theconveying member to a position downstream of said second opening foractuating said operating means and pivoting said ramp from the inclinEdto the horizontal position.
 13. The system of claim 8, and includingguide means connected to the guide track and disposed to be engaged bythe conveying unit to move the conveying unit to a third elevatedposition above said conveying position.
 14. A conveyor system for avehicle washing unit, comprising a foundation, an endless conveyor chainmounted for travel on the foundation and disposed to travel in ahorizontal plane, an entry station located adjacent one end of the pathof travel of said conveyor, a series of roller units attached at spacedintervals to said conveyor chain, each roller unit being pivotallyconnected to the conveyor chain about a horizontal axis whereby theroller unit can pivot in a vertical plane, passage means formed in thefoundation beneath the entry station, bypass means for selectivelydiverting the roller units through said passage means and beneath saidentry station whereby the roller units will not engage the vehicle tirelocated at said entry station, each roller unit including an armpivotally connected to the conveyor chain and also including a mainroller journalled for rotation on said arm and disposed to engage thevehicle tire, and means on said conveyor chain for preventing lateraldeflection of the outer end of the arm when the main roller is disposedin engagement with the vehicle tire. L DEFLECTION OF THE OUTER END OFTHE ARM WHEN THE MAIN ROLLER IS DISPOSED IN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE VEHICLETIRE.